White Patch, Queensland

White Patch
Bribie IslandQueensland
View from the beach at White Patch
White Patch is located in Queensland
White Patch
White Patch
Map
Coordinates27°01′48″S 153°07′25″E / 27.0300°S 153.1236°E / -27.0300; 153.1236 (White Patch (town centre))
Population150 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density57.7/km2 (149/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4507
Area2.6 km2 (1.0 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)City of Moreton Bay
State electorate(s)Pumicestone
Federal division(s)Longman
Localities around White Patch:
Welsby Welsby Welsby
Toorbul White Patch Banksia Beach
Toorbul Toorbul Banksia Beach

White Patch is a coastal town and locality of Bribie Island in the City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of White Patch had a population of 150 people.[1]

Geography

White Patch is on the western side of Bribie Island, adjacent to the Pumicestone Channel which forms its western boundary. Wright Creek passes through the southern part of the locality into Pumicestone Channel. The land along the western coast has residential development. The remaining land is undeveloped land, with two areas (26°54′34″N 153°06′24″E / 26.9095°N 153.1066°E / 26.9095; 153.1066 (Part of Bribie Island National Park) and 27°01′27″S 153°07′15″E / 27.0243°S 153.1209°E / -27.0243; 153.1209 (Part of Bribie Island National Park)) being within the Bribie Island National Park.[4]

History

Large Rock Cod caught at the White Patch, 1936

The town was originally called Bribie,[5] but was renamed White Patch on 1 September 1980. The name White Patch refers a sand patch formerly visible from Pumicestone Channel.[2]

In 1799 Matthew Flinders beached his sloop Norfolk for repairs at White Patch.[6]

The Queensland Government sold 140 town lots in the Town of Bribie at the "White Patch" in 1887.[7][8][9]

A Department of Public Lands cadastral map drawn up in June 1925 shows properties facing Pumicestone Channel, bordered by Maud street on the north west, Charles Street to the north and Bunbuba Street on the south east.[10]

In November 1948, fishermen at White Patch claimed to have seen a sea serpent. It was described as being brown or yellow "like a banana", 18 to 24 feet (5.5 to 7.3 m) long with large eyes and was accompanied by smaller serpents (possibly its young). It was said to hiss and squeak.[11] In December 1948, Eric Decker, the Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Sandgate, caught such a "serpent" while on holidays at Bribie Island. Mr Mack, curator at the Queensland Museum, said the description was consistent with a common sea snake in Moreton Bay.[12]

Demographics

In the 2011 census, the locality of White Patch had a population of 112 people, 50% female and 50% male. The median age of the White Patch population was 53 years, 16 years above the national median of 37. 68.4% of people living in White Patch were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were England 14%, New Zealand 4.4%, Germany 3.5%, Netherlands 3.5%, Sweden 2.6%. 92.2% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 2.6% French, 2.6% Swedish.[13]

In the 2016 census, the locality of White Patch had a population of 142 people.[14]

In the 2021 census, the locality of White Patch had a population of 150 people.[1]

Education

There are no schools in White Patch. The nearest government primary school is Banksia Beach State School in neighbouring Banksia Beach to the south-east. The nearest government secondary school is Bribie Island State High School in Bongaree to the south-east.[4]

Attractions

A talking monument, located in nearby Banksia Beach, tells the story of the landing of Matthew Flinders on Bribie Island in July 1799.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "White Patch (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ a b "White Patch – town in Moreton Bay Region (entry 37294)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  3. ^ "White Patch – locality in Moreton Bay Region (entry 45498)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Town of Bribie" (Map). Queensland Government. 1979. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  6. ^ Clark, Barry. "First White Foot on Bribie Island". The Bribie Islander. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Advertising". The Telegraph. No. 4, 512. Queensland, Australia. 25 March 1887. p. 1. Retrieved 24 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Crown Land Sale". The Week. Vol. XXIII, no. 593. Queensland, Australia. 7 May 1887. p. 9. Retrieved 24 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "FIFTY YEARS AGO". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 5 May 1937. p. 16. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  10. ^ "Town of Bribie, Parish of Woorim, County of Canning, land agent's district of Brisbane". rosettadel.slq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  11. ^ "Sea 'horror' at Toorbul". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 27 November 1948. p. 1. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  12. ^ "SERPENT' CATCH: NOW BELIEVED SEA SNAKE". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 14 December 1948. p. 1. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  13. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "White Patch (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 29 May 2014. Edit this at Wikidata
  14. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "White Patch (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  15. ^ "Visiting Bribie Island". Bribie Island Chamber of Commerce Inc. Archived from the original on 30 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.